John s



1. S. HOLLIDAY.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.28. 1919.

- Patented June 10, 1919.

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TED PAET FI@ JOHN s. HOLLIDAY, OE WILKINSEUEG, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoP, 'ro THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, ,OE sWIssvALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNAL.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1o, 1919.

Continuation of application Serial No. 206,281, filed December 8, 1917. This application led January 28,

1919. Serial No. 273,573.

b cllwtom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOI-IN S. HOLIJDAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Willrinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania,` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to` signals, and particularly to signals of the type comprising a semaphore biased toa stop position and movable to a caution and a proceed pof sition, a magnet for holding' the semaphore in the caution position, and a relay responsive to reversals of current for controlling the supply of Current to said magnet. In signals of this character, when the semaphore is inthe caution position and is to beV moved to theproceed position, the polarity of the current supplied to the relay is reversed, so that the relay is momentarily opened. This momentary opening of the relaycauses momentary denergization of the holding magnet, and unless means are provided to prevent release of the armature of this magnet at such times, the semaphore will bereleased and will return to its stop position. This action of the semaphore has heretofore been prevented in various ways, such as by making the holding` magnet slowreleasing, or by interposing a slow-releasing relay between the controlling relay and the magnet. Y l V, ,f

According to my present invention, I provide a thermo-electric generator for supplyingI current to the holding magnet, and electrical means under the control of the controlling relay for heatingthe generator, so that during the momentary cessation of current in such heating means incident to the reversal of the controlling relay the current supplied to the magnet by the generator does not decrease to the release value of the magnet. p

The present application is a continuation of m'y copending application, Serial No.

206281, iiled December 8, 1917, for electromagnetic apparatus,inso far as the subjectwhich is pivotally mast or post 33,. This semaphore is biased The accompanying drawing is a view,

partly diagrammatic, showing one form Of 'signal and one form of controlling apparatus therefor embodying my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character S designates a semaphore mounted on a supporting the frame of the mechanism and operatively connected with `the semaphore S through suitable means indicated by the dash line 46. The `arm 34 is moved by chains 37 and 37a, which chains are in turn driven by the motor M `in the direction indicated by the arrows. The chain 37 operates over two sprocket wheels 43 `and 44, the first of these wheels being driven by the motor through a connection 25 which usually comprises reduction gearing. The chain 37a operates over a `sprocket wheel 45 and another sprocket wheel which is not shown in the drawing, but .which is mounted directly behind vthe wheel 44 and is attached to the same shaft as the latter wheel. The chains 37 and 37 arer provided with rollers 38 which project laterally from theV chains to engage with a fork 35 pivoted at point 35L in arm 34. rIwo pairs of rollers are provided foreach chain, the two pairs on each chain being disposed at diametrically opposite points on the chain.4 The fork 35 comprises three parallel prongs (only one of which is shown), the lirst and second of which coact with the rollers 38 on chain 37, and the second and third of which coact with the rollers on chain 37a;

The fork 35 is controlled by an electr magnet. D through a toggle mechanism 36 in the arm 34, the control being such that the fork is held rigidly in the position shown with respect to arm 34, that' is, in a project-ed position wherein it is in the path of rollers 38, when the magnet D is energized;

but is free to swing upwardly to a retracted position wherein it is out of the path of` these rollers when the magnet is denergized. It follows, then, that when the semaphore is in the stop position and magnet D is energized, if motor M is operated to drive;

the chain 37, one pair of rollers 38 on this chain will engage the fork 35 and so will elevate arm 34 and semaphore S to the intermediateor caution7 posit-ion, in which position the rollers will pass out from under the fork. The fork will then be caught and held 'by a latch 41, which is pivoted to the frame work of the signal mechanism and is vbiased tothe latcliing position in which it is shown by a spring 41a. If, then, the motor M is again operated, the fork will be vcaught by one of the pairs of rollers on chain 37?, so that the arm 34 and semaphore S will be elevated to the highest 0r proceed position, wherein the rollers will pass outV from under the fork. The forli will'then be caught and held by a latch 42, whichlatch is pivoted to the frame work of the mechanisin and is biased to latchingposition by a spring 42a. Thel semaphore willl remain in this 'position until magnet D becomes deenergized, whereupon the forli 35 will swing upwardly with respect to arm 34 andso become, disengaged' from latch 42, so that the arm 34 and semaphore S will drop to their lowest positions,y and the signal will again indicate stop designates a contact which isnormally closed, but is opened by a knob 40 on arm 34 just before the arm reaches its highest p0- sition, that is, just before this arm is deposited on` latch 42. The arm 34 actuates two other contacts 13 and 22 in the-manner *hereinafter explained in describing the 0peration of the signal.v

The motor M and magnet D are controlled by current from a suitable source, such as a transformer T, the primary of which is supplied, from a source. of alternating currentY which is notA shown in th'edrawing.. The supply :of current from the source to the signal is controlled by a relay R vwhich is responsive tov reversals of current. As here sliowii,this relay is of the polyphase motor type comprising-.two stator windings 2 and 3', a rotor 5, and a contact finger 4 operated by the rotor and biased to an intermediate or open position in which it; is shown. Stator winding 3 isconstantly supplied with current from the secondary of transformer T through connections which are apparent from the drawing, whereas stator winding 2 is reversibly connected with the secondary of transform-ei' T by means of a polechanger P. The currents in the two windings 2 and 3 are displaced in phase 'by any suitable lmeans, such as by a reactance 8 in series with oneof these; windings. It lis obvious that con-tact finger 4 will be swung to the left or right, so that it will engage with iixed contact 6 or 7, according as the pole-changer P connects winding 2 with transformer T in one direction or the other.V

The magnet D is supplied with current by a thermo-electric generatorG, which generator may be of any suitable type. One set of the junctions of this generator, theylefthand set, as shown in the drawing, is subject to atmospheric temperature, while the' righthand setof junctions is at times heated by a resistance H, which is supplied with current in the manner hereinafter explained.

WhenY the resistanceHis cold, so that both Y sets of junctions of the generator Gare at the same temperature, no current is sup- Vplied to the magnet D, so tha-t the latter is i' denergized; butwhen the resistance H is hot, the generator G supplies sufficient current to the magnet D to` cause this magnet to hold the fork 35 in engagement with rollers 38,011 with latch 41' or 42. i

The operation of the signal' and ofthe 'controlling apparatus is as follows: Y Vhen the pole-changer P is in the intermediate position, asl shown in the drawing, relay Rjis de'e'nergized so Vthat motor M and' resistance H` are both"denergized and the semaphore S is' in the horizontaler stop position as shown, theotherfparts of the signalA being also in the positions in which they-are shown; in the 'drawin I will now assume kthat Vpole-.changer` lis shifted to energize relay R in suoli vdirection Y that Contact inger 4 will swing tothe left. Resistance H is then. supplied with Acurrent from transformer T, the circuit beingfrom theleft-hand terminal o f the secondary of Vthis transformer, through wire'r9, relay con-V tact 1 -6,; wires. 10 and 11, contact 231422,

wire 16, resistance H,and common ywire O;

to the right-hand terminal ofthe secondary i of` transformer T. Resistance H is then heated, so that the thermo-electric genera-i tor Grsupplies current to theholding niagnet D. M otor Mis also supplied withcuirent, the circuitfbeing from the left-hand "l teiininalof the secondary of transformer T, through wire 9, relay Contact 4-45, wires 10 and 17,V contact 12-13, wire 18, motor M, and common wire OV to the secondary of transformer T. Motor M and magnet DV closedwhile the semaphore occupies the caution position. `Just before Yreaching the latter position, however, a second contact 22-30 becomes closed Vand this contact continues to be closed while the signal is being moved to and while it occupies its vertical or proceed position.

I will now assume that-pole-changer P is reversed, so that relay R becomes energized in such direction as to swing its contact finger 4 to the right. A new circuit for resistance H is then closed, this circuit being from the ,left-hand terminal ofthe secondary of transformer T, through wire 9, relay contact 4 7, wires 19 and 20, contact 30 22, wire 16, resistance H, and common wire `O' to the secondary, of transformer T. The reversal of relay R also causes the closure of a new circuit for motor M, this circuit being from` the left-hand terminal of the secondary of transformer T, through wire 9, contact 4 7, wires 19 and 26, contact C, wire'27, contact 14 13, wire V18, motor M and common wire O to the secondaryof transformer T. Motor M therefore, operates chains 37 and y37a to lift arm 34 to its highest position,` correspondingto the proceed positionof the semaphore, and` as soon as this position is reached the motor 1s denergized by the opening of contact C. If, while the semaphore is in the proceed position, pole-changer P is returned to itsV intermediate or `open position, relay VR will v become denergized, so that the circuit for resistance H will beY opened. MagnetD will then become denergized, whereupon the arm 34 and the semaphore S will drop to the positions in which they are shown in the drawing and the parts will then be ready for a repetition of the operation hereinbefore explained.

If relay R, should be reversed while the semaphore is moving between stop and caution positions, motor M will continue to operate on current supplied by the second circuit for this Inotor traced above that is, through contacts 4 7 and C. Iiesistance H will be supplied with current through contact 4 31, wire 32, wire 11, contact 23 22, etc., until the semaphore reaches the caution position at which time the second circuit traced hereinbefore for this resistance becomes effective.

It will be noted that while the semaphore is being held in the caution position, if the relay R is reversed to cause a movement of the semaphore to its proceed position, there is an interval of time during which the heating resistance H is denergized, this being due to the fact that the circuit for this resistanceismomentarily opened while the relay contact finger 4is swinging from the fixed contact 6 to the fixed contact 7 If themagnetD were supplied Vwith current directly from the transformer T, and this supplywere' controlled by relay contact finger 4, it is obvious that the magnet D would be momentarily denergized during thisv reversal of the relay, so that arm 34 would be released and would fall to its lowest position, thus allowing semaphore S to. return `to its horizontal or stop position. The purpose of the thermo-electric generator G is to avoid this return of the semaphore S to its stop position during reversal of relay R. It is clear that during the reversal of the relay while the semaphore is in the caution position, resistance H will not have time to cool to atmospheric temperature, so that the current supplied to magnet D will not decrease to zero during this interval.: The generator G and' resistance H may `easily be so adjusted that during the interval in which the circuitefor re sistance H is opened by reversal of relay R, the current supplied to magnet D will not decrease to the release value of this magnet. i y V My4 invention is particularly well adapted for use `in connection with signals which are operatedby alternating current. As is well understood, when a tractive magnet is supplied directly with alternating current, such magnet cannot be made4 `slow-releasing in action by the usualmeans, such as a copper sleeve around the core of the magnet. If, however, the magnet is energized by current supplied by a thermo-electric generator, which generatorvis heated by the resistance supplied with alternating current, it is clear that the armature of the magnet .will not release until a certain time interval after the cessation of flow of the alternating current in the heating resistance.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of signal and controlling apparatus therefor embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may bev made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a semaphore biased to one position, a magnet for holding said one position, a.: magnet for holdingsaid semaphore 1n another position 1n oppositlon to the biasing force, a. thermo-electricgenerator for supplying current t0 saidfmagnet,`

rcversibly connecting said relay -With said.

source, and means controlled by said relay for supplying energy to said electrical heating means from said source when said relay is energized in either direction.

V4. Inv combination, a semaphorebiased to one position, a .magnet for holding vsaid Y semaphore in another position in opposition to the biasing force, a thermo-electric generator for supplying current to said magnet, electrical means for heating said generator, and means including a relay responsivev'to reversals of current for supplying current to said electrical means When the relay is energzed in either direction, said generator and heating means being so adjusted -that the current which is supplied to said magnet Will not fall tothe release value of the magnet While the supply of current to the heat- Copies of- `this patentmay be Vobtainedffor` vepcents each, by addressing the Commissioner of. Patents,

nsoagrsi ing meansv is d-iscontinuel;during.reversal of said relay.`

t. 5. Incombination, a .sig'nal comprising a a relay? responsive to reversals ofcurrent,

and means controlled by said relay and by the signal for supplyingcurrent tosaid resistance` to holdthe semaphore vin Vcaution position Whenthe relay is energized in either direction,.andfor supplying currentito-Vsaid resistance t0 hold the semaphoreinproceed position when ther relay isenergized in one given direction only. Y. f. 6.V In combinatlomaf semaphore biased to one pos1t1on.means for moving-saidA semaphore to 'another position in oppositionyto Y Y the biasing force, a magnet for-'clutchingy said semaphore to said moving means, While the semaphore is being moved fand-V for holdingj vthe semaphore inthe second position7 a thermo-electric generator forsupplying current to4 said magnet, electricalvmeans lfor heating ysaid generator, and means including V a` relay responsive to reversalsof current:

for supplying -curren tto said electrical means When said relay is energized in either Y i direction.l y. t 7

In testimony whereof Ifalix. my signature in presence o-tWo 'Witnesses Y g i f JOHN-S. HOLLIDAY,

v Y Witnesses A.t HERMAN WEGNnRgii y ELI. Cmnvr.` Y

Washington, D. G. 

